Tennessee Tourist Attractions
Tennessee Tourist Attractions
"Must See Tourist Attractions in Tennessee."
The State of Tennessee is known for its strong musical heritage. Many famous musicians, such as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, started their careers in Tennessee. Elvis lived in Memphis in the Graceland Mansion. Visitors to the area should not pass up the opportunity to visit the mansion and pay their respects to the King of Rock 'n Roll in the Meditation Garden. Another well-known star is Dolly Parton, who has her own theme park called Dollywood in the Knoxville area. Other attractions in the area include The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is located in Gatlinburg. The national park spans almost symmetrically across the Tennessee and North Carolina border. Country music fans will enjoy a visit to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where live tapings of the longest running country music station can be seen and heard in the 4400-seat studio. Also offered in the city are a variety of museums that are sure to gain the interest of everyone who visits. Located in the south of Tennessee is Chattanooga, which is most famous for the Chattanooga Choo Choo. As well as a famous song about a train, the Choo Choo now refers to a restored railroad station that serves as a hotel and leisure complex.
ATTRACTIONS
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The Memphis Belle - See the most famous aircraft of the Second World War, The B-17 Flying Fortress - Memphis Belle. The star of two Hollywood films, newsreels, newspapers, books, and studies.
Mud Island - Mud Island River Park is the nation's premier tribute to the mighty Mississippi River. The beauty and majesty of the river is detailed in the Mississippi River Museum and the River Walk, a 5-block long outdoor replica of the river from Cairo, IL to New Orleans, LA with city plots, scale-model bridges and levees and 800,000 gallons of water flowing every minute.
Fire Museum - If you've ever wanted to follow a fire truck or slide down a brass firehouse pole, if you agree that firefighters are a brave and dedicated band of public servants, and if you realize that deadly fires affect us all, then visit the finest Fire Museum in the nation in Memphis.
The Pyramid Arena - The 32 story Pyramid is the third largest pyramid in the world and soars even taller than the Statue of Liberty or the Taj Mahal. This 21,000 seat sports and entertainment facility is home to the University of Memphis Men's Basketball Program and is well known for hosting national basketball tournaments, concerts and family shows.
Rock City Gardens - Take an unforgettable journey high atop Lookout Mountain! Enjoy the quiet woodland paths and gardens. Discover ancient rock formations. Explore the 400 species of plants, flowers and shrubs. Each step is a discovery! Cast your wish upon the 140-foot high falls. Stand mightily upon world-famous Lover's Leap and wrap yourself in the magnificent view.
Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum - This historic 1890s home belongs to America's most legendary railroad man. The museum features railroad artifacts, original steam locomotive engine and a 25-foot model railroad exhibit.
Art Museum of the University of Memphis - Located on the campus of The University of Memphis, AMUM offers visitors permanent displays of Egyptian antiquities and West African artifacts, and changing exhibitions of Contemporary Art.
Libertyland - The Park's beautifully landscaped grounds are filled with live shows featuring pop, rock'n'roll, gospel, and country music; 24 rides for adults and children including North America's oldest operating wooden roller coaster--the Zippin Pippin; a 1909 Dentzel Grand Carousel; a 360-degree topsy turvy steel coaster; an ancient Viking ship, games, quaint shops and special events.
Memphis Zoo - See African Lions and 2,800 other subjects representing 400 species of the animal kingdom. Features naturalistic state-of-the-art exhibits: Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Animals of the Night, Dragon's Lair, Once Upon a Farm and more.
National Civil Rights Museum - The Museum offers the first and only comprehensive overview of the civil rights movement in exhibit form. It is an educational institution designed to help visitors understand the civil rights movement and how this movement impacted movements for social rights worldwide. The museum features a collection of Civil Rights artifacts including Dr. Martin Luther King's speeches and more.Wonders: The Memphis International Cultural Series - Visit the Memphis International Cultural Series which has hosted exhibitions including Catherine the Great, Splendors of the Ottoman Sultans, The Etruscans, Napoleon, Imperial Tombs of China, TITANIC: The Exhibition, Ancestors of the Incas.
Elvis Presley's Graceland - Visit Elvis' 14-acre estate which includes a mansion tour, The Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Elvis' Custom Jets, and a museum featuring personal items reflecting the private side of the legend.
Sun Studio - Tour the most famous recording studio in the world. This studio launched the career of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and many more!
Chucalissa Archaeological Museum - This national historic landmark is located on a 187 acre tract of land in southwest Memphis, Tennessee. Chucalissa is home to the C.H. Nash Museum, its associated collections and research facilities as well as a reconstructed 15th century Native American village located on an actual archaeological site.
Pink Palace Family of Museums - The Pink Palace Family of Museums offers a wide-ranging collection of historic, educational, and technological attractions. Some of the finest attractions and exhibits in the country are operated by the Museum Family, including the Pink Palace Museum, the Union Planters IMAX Theater, the Sharpe Planetarium, and the historic Mallory Neely and Magevney Houses.
Children's Museum of Memphis - The Children's Museum of Memphis encourages the curiosity and imagination of children and their families through interactive exhibitions, programs and resources that help demystify the arts, sciences, humanities and technology.
National Ornamental Metal Museum - The National Ornamental Metal Museum is the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to the exhibition and preservation of fine metalwork.
The Dixon Gallery & Gardens - A specialized art museum on 17 acres of garden and woodlands focusing on Impressionist and decorative arts. Special exhibitions held throughout the year.
Nashville Shores - Located on 385 acres with more than 2,500 feet of white sandy beaches and three miles of lakefront area, Nashville Shores features a wide variety of activities for the whole family.Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum features over 40,000 square feet of exhibit space. Special featues include live entertainment, an enormous two-story wall displays every gold and platinum record ever to make the country charts, the Ford Theater, a full service restaurant and a 5,500 square foot museum shop.
Nashville toy Museum - See one of the world's finest collections of vintage toys and models. See 100 year old live steamers and 10 foot ship models in the museum.
Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - Nashville's first professional theater in-the-round, that provides Broadway-type entertainment as well as a buffet all year.
Belmont Mansion - Take a tour of this beautiful Victorian mansion, home to Adalicia Acken, one of the wealthiest women in 19th-century America.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere - Featuring wildlife from across the globe, including the Unseen New World, Grassmere Historic Farm, and other select species representing Africa, Asia, and North and South America. Also, the Jungle Gym Playground including more than 66,000 square feet of play area with a pond, cargo netting, slides, climbers and more.
Opry Mills - At 1.2 million square feet, Opry Mills combines the best names in retail with the hottest experiences in entertainment in one of the most well-known locations in the world.The Parthenon in Nashville - The world's only full size replica of the ancient Parthenon in Athens.
Ryman Auditorium - Musicians ranging from Roy Acuff to Hank Williams to Trisha Yearwood have performed on the Ryman stage, making it a historical as well as a current day icon for people everywhere.
Scarritt-Bennett Center - Scarritt-Bennett Center is a not-for-profit conference, retreat and educational center committed to empowerment through cross-cultural understanding, education, creativity and spiritual renewal. It is located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee on ten tree-filled acres.
Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) - TPAC presents a series of Broadway shows and special engagements, and administers a comprehensive education program. TPAC is also home to five resident performing arts organizations: Circle Players, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera Association, The Nashville Symphony, and Tennessee Repertory Theatre.
Belle Meade Plantation - Experience a 1853 mansion restored to its elegance of the Victorian era, 1890 carriage house and stable displaying antique carriages, 1790 log cabin, one of the oldest houses in Tennessee, and tour guides in period costume.
Warner Park Zoo - The mission of the Chattanooga Zoo, formerly Warner Park Zoo, is to provide an educational and recreational opportunity for all. The Chattanooga Zoo also seeks to provide a dignified and esthetically pleasing environment for the animals.Chattanooga Riverboat Company - Chattanooga Riverboat Company offers fabulous dinner cruises, daily lunch cruises or daytime sightseeing cruises along the scenic Tennessee River aboard the Southern Belle.
Ruby Falls - Ruby Falls, America's highest underground waterfall open to the public, is located on historic Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Take a guided tour of the caves and the spectacular 145-foot waterfall. Ruby Falls - a memorable experience for all ages.
Tennessee Aquarium - The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is the world's largest freshwater aquarium. Journey through a spectacular 60-foot canyon and two living forests, where you'll see over 9,000 animals that swim, fly, and crawl in natural habitats.
Tennessee Valley Railroad - Tennessee Valley Railroad is the largest operating historic railroad in the South. Restored steam and diesel locomotives pull trains along a historic railroad on 50-minute roundtrip rides.
Abraham Lincoln Museum - Located on the beautiful campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum houses one of the most diverse Lincoln and Civil War collections in the country.
The Museum of Appalachia - Opened in the late 1960's, the museum has grown to 65 acres, including dozens of authentic log structures, a large Display Building, an extensive Craft and Gift (and Antique) Shop, and Auditorium, and the popular Appalachian Hall of Fame Building.
Governor's Palace Theatre - The beautiful Governor's Palace Theatre is the home of two productions: Come Celebrate America (Apr - Oct) and Come Celebrate Christmas (Nov - Dec).
Country Tonite Theatre - Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge brings you the same high-energy, non-stop entertainment that has made its Branson and Las Vegas shows so popular. In its fifth year in Pigeon Forge, Country Tonite's spectacular music and entertainment is presented to you by America's largest award-winning cast.Creative Discovery Museum - The Creative Discovery Museum is a great place for children to discover themselves and the world they live in. Hands-on, interactive arts and science exhibits wow and challenge children to explore, create and learn.
Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre - On your next visit to the Great Smoky Mountains, head for Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre, Gatlinburg´s top entertainment attraction and oldest purveyor of professional, live-on-stage, original musical comedies, outrageous humor and hilarious fun.
Dolly's Splash Country - Located in the scenic splendor of the Smoky Mountains, Dolly's Splash Country offers waterfalls, winding streams and white water adventures for the whole family. Enjoy loads of rides -from wild to mild!
Louise Mandrell Theater - Starring Louise Mandrell in every show, this multi-million dollar production explodes under the spotlight with music from Country, Blues, Cajun, and Rock 'n Roll to Big Band and Gospel. Spectacular costumes and elaborate sets with 15-foot puppets, lead the way to confetti and balloons showering the audience during the fabulous finale ... Don't Miss This Show!
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort & Amusement Park - A mountain top of fun, excitement, and mountain beauty awaits you at the scenic and exciting four-seasons world of Ober Gatlinburg.
Dollywood - Escape to the unique world of Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain theme park in Pigeon Forge. Enjoy the wholesome fun and entertainment of the music, crafts, attractions and rides at Dollywood.
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site - Andrew Johnson National Historic Site honors the life and work of the nation's 17th President and preserves his two homes, tailor shop, and grave site. Andrew Johnson's life exemplifies many struggles faced by Americans today. He worked his way from tailor to President. He stood strong for his ideals and beliefs. His presidency, from 1865 - 1869, illustrates the United States Constitution at work following Lincoln's assassination and during attempts to reunify a nation that had been torn by civil war. His work helped shape the future of the United States and his influences continue today.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail - The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,167-mile (3,488 km) footpath along the ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in north Georgia. The trail traverses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area - The free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries pass through 90 miles of scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide range of natural and historic features. The area offers a broad range of recreational opportunities including camping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting and fishing.
Fort Donelson National Cemetery - In July 1862, Congress passed legislation giving the President of the United States the authority to purchase land for the establishment of cemeteries "for the soldiers who shall die in the service of their country." This legislation effectively began the National Cemetery system. In 1867, Fort Donelson National Cemetery was established as the final resting place of Union soldiers killed at Fort Donelson.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield - Fort Donelson National Battlefield includes: Fort Donelson National Cemetery (established 1867) the final resting place for Union soldiers killed at Fort Donelson, and American veterans representing seven wars, visitor center, the Dover Hotel (Surrender House), an adaptive restoration of the historic building where confederate general Simon B. Buckner surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, and Fort Donelson with associated earthen rifle pits and river batteries.
Obed Wild and Scenic River - Approximately 45 miles of wild and scenic river are comprised of the Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek and Emory River. These water courses have cut rugged gorges leaving exciting whitewater gorges with bluffs as high as 500 feet above the water.Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail - The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail follows the Revolutionary War route of Patriot militia men from Virginia, today's eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to the battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, site of the Kings Mountain National Military Park.
Shiloh National Cemetery - Shiloh National Cemetery was established in 1866 and has more than 3,500 Union graves. In 1933 responsibility of the cemetery was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service.
Shiloh National Military Park - Shiloh National Military Park was established in 1894 to preserve the scene of the first major battle in the Western theater of the Civil War. The two-day battle, April 6 and 7, 1862, involved about 65,000 Union and 44,000 Confederate troops. This battle resulted in nearly 24,000 killed, wounded, and missing. It proved to be a decisive victory for the federal forces when they advanced on and seized control of the Confederate railway system at Corinth, Mississippi. The battlefield contains about 4,000 acres and has within its boundaries the Shiloh National Cemetery along with the well preserved prehistoric Indian mounds that are listed as a historic landmark.
Stones River National Cemetery - Stones River National Cemetery was established in 1865 and has more than 6,000 Union graves. In 1933 responsibility of the cemetery was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service.
Stones River National Battlefield - A fierce battle took place at Stones River between December 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863. General Bragg's Confederates withdrew after the battle, allowing General Rosecrans and the Union army to control middle Tennessee. Although the battle was tactically indecisive, it provided a much-needed boost to the North after the defeat at Fredericksburg.